Radio frequency communication device including a mirrored surface

ABSTRACT

A RF communication device (100, 200, 300) employs a mirrored surface (109, 209, 309). The mirrored surface (109, 209) contains a display area (108, 208) that may be used to output operational information of the RF communication device (100, 200), such as signal strength and status information, to a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to communication devices and, moreparticularly, to radio frequency (RF) communication devices.

RF communication systems, such as a cellular radiotelephone system,permit a user to communicate telephonically at virtually any location.Because of this unique convenience, the number of cellular telephoneusers has increased dramatically in recent years. While some cellulartelephones are portable and, thus, can be carried on the person of theuser, a cellular telephone permanently mounted within a vehicle ("mobiletelephone") of the user is often considered more convenient. Forexample, the user of a mobile telephone, as opposed to the user of theportable telephone, does not have to be preoccupied with periodicallyrecharging the battery coupled to the telephone or manually powering-onand powering-off the telephone. The mobile telephone is typicallycoupled to the battery of the vehicle and powered-on when the vehicleignition is engaged.

Previous commercially available mobile telephones typically require alarge amount of space within the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Themobile telephone includes a handset, which functions as a user-interfaceto perform functions and make and receive calls, and a hang-up cup forsupporting the handset when it is not being utilized. The handset andhang-up cup must be placed within comfortable reach so as to beaccessible to the primary occupant of the vehicle, the driver. Thus, therequisite space is further restricted to that space proximately locatedto the driver of the vehicle.

The degree of visibility of the handset of the mobile telephone in thepassenger compartment is an additional concern. A handset mounted inproximity to the driver seat of a vehicle will typically be visible topassersby through the windows of the vehicle and, thus, inviting theftwhen the vehicle is left unattended. In addition, because the presenceof a mobile telephone in a vehicle may often be considered a sign ofaffluence, the visibility of the handset may prompt unscrupulouspassersby to force entry into an unattended vehicle for ulteriorreasons.

A mobile telephone should also be manufactured so as to prevent theuser, from diverting attention while operating the vehicle. AlthoughMotorola, Inc. does not condone conversing on a mobile telephone whiledriving, an action that is unlawful in some states, it must berecognized that users may engage in such an activity. Thus, a mobiletelephone should be easily operational so as to prevent the driver'seyes from "leaving the road."

Motorola, Inc. further urges users to pull off of the roadway whenplacing a call or immediately after receiving a call. Prior to placing acall and exiting from traffic, it would be advantageous for the driverto be able to view mobile telephone status information and judge whetherthe call can be made from the location of the vehicle. This prevents theuser from making unnecessary multiple exits and entries into trafficwhen the present location is outside the coverage of a cellular system.While the vehicle is stopped, the mobile telephone should not hinder theuser from making a call and remaining attentive to traffic conditions sothat the user's re-entry into traffic may be quickly and safelyaccomplished after the call has been completed.

Manufacturers have attempted to resolve the aforementioned shortcomingsin a number of ways. One such way included integrating a cellulartelephone handset into the driver's side sun visor, such that a call canplaced or received when the visor is in a "flipped-down" position.However, the "flipped-down" visor prevents the user from remainingattentive to traffic conditions. Another way included creating variousvehicle-installed accessories that interface with the cellular telephoneto eliminate the need for the handset and hang-up cup while facilitatingall aspects of call initiation and termination with respect to thedriver. While such accessories may appear to obviate the need for ahandset by permitting the mobile telephone to function in "hands freetransmit" or "voice operated transmit" modes of operation, neither ofthese methods suffice when the driver must assess important statusinformation.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a cost-effective RFcommunication device that takes up minimal space, is concealed from theview of onlookers, and permits the driver to assess status informationprior to initiating a call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a radio frequency (RF)communication device having a mirrored surface in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle rear view mirror having an integral RFcommunication device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a woman's make-up compact having an integral RFcommunication device in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) communicationdevice that employs a mirrored surface.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an RF communication device 100having a mirrored surface 109. The RF communication device 100 consistsof a receiver 101 and a transmitter 102 coupled to an antenna 103. TheRF communication device 100 may be any commercial cellularradiotelephone or two-way communication device.

Coupled to both the receiver 101 and the transmitter 102 is a controller104. The controller 104 may be comprised of any commercially availablemicroprocessor. The controller 104 directs the operation of the receiver101 and transmitter 102 so as to, for example, properly modulate anddemodulate signals to be transmitted and received by the antenna 103.

A memory 105 is coupled to the controller 104. If the RF communicationdevice 100 is a cellular telephone, the memory 105 may contain a seriesof pre-stored, preferential telephone numbers that the user may retrieveand call.

The controller 104 may provide input/output information to the user aswell as to an external device or system. The input/output informationmay take the form of acoustic "ear and mouth" signaling to a humanbeing. A speaker 106, coupled to the controller 104, "inputs" received,demodulated signals in an audibly discernible form into the ear of theuser. While a microphone 107, coupled to the controller 104, "outputs"the speech of the user as electrical signals that are transmitted asmodulated RF signals.

The input/output information can also consist of user-initiated controlsignaling that operates the functions of the RF communication device100. Functional information of the RF communication device 100 may be"inputted" by the user through an interface comprised of push-buttons,switches, knobs, and/or other controls. This interface is typicallyembodied as a keypad 111 coupled to the controller 104. The keypad 111may allow the user to "power-on" the RF communication device 100 as wellas, in the case of a cellular telephone, permit the user to input anumber to be called.

With respect to a cellular radiotelephone, the aforementioned speaker106, the microphone 107, and the keypad 111 may be combined into ahandset. The handset may be utilized by the user to input the number tocall, initiate the call, converse during the call, and terminate thecall. However, to facilitate operation of a cellular telephone mountedin a vehicle, the industry has begun to move towards manufacturingphones capable of operating in a "handsfree" mode.

The input/output information can further consist of operationalinformation returned to the user during the operation of the RFcommunication device 100. Operational information may consist of signalstrength information or status information. Operational information ofthe RF communication device 100 (as well as the aforementionedfunctional information) can be "outputted" to the viewer via a display108. The display 108 is capable of displaying alphanumeric charactersand could consist of a light-emitting diode display, a liquid crystaldisplay, or any arrangement of visual elements that the user is capableof perceiving.

The display 108 of RF communication device 100 is coupled to a mirroredsurface 109. The display 108 may be mounted behind a transparent windowin the mirrored surface 109 to display functional and operationalinformation. Alternatively, the display 108 may be positioned to projectfunctional and operational information onto a portion of the mirroredsurface 109. Current advances in electrochromic mirror technologysuggest the plausibility of controllably reducing the reflectivity ofportions of the mirrored surface 109 so as to permit informationpresented on the display 108 mounted behind the mirrored surface 109 tobe visible to a viewer on the front side of the mirrored surface 109.

The aforementioned input/output information signaling may occur via adata interface 110 coupled to the controller 104. The data interface 110allows the RF communication device 100 to accept and return datainformation to and from an external system electronically, rather thanaudibly or visually. The external system may include a computer or othertype of electronic device. Interfaces, such as the data interface 110,are also typically used during manufacture and by servicing personnel.Data passed through the data interface 110 can be used for eitherover-the-air communications or for controlling functionality internal tothe RF communication device 100 itself. Furthermore, utilization of thedata interface 110 may negate a need for the dedicated keypad 111coupled to the controller 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle rear view mirror having an integral RFcommunication device in accordance with the present invention. Fordiscussion purposes, the RF communication device comprising the rearview mirror is a cellular radiotelephone; thus, a rear view mirror phone200. The rear view mirror phone 200 is comprised of a rear housing 214.A mirrored surface 209 is fitted into the rear housing 214 and comprisesthe front face surface of the rear housing 214. The circuitry of acellular radiotelephone, such as that disclosed in reference to the RFcommunication device 100 of FIG. 1, is disposed between the mirroredsurface 209 and rear face surface of the rear housing 214.

The rear view mirror phone 200 further comprises a mounting stalk 212that extends orthogonally from the rear face surface of the rear housing214. The stalk 212 attaches the rear view mirror phone 200 to thewindshield of the vehicle, i.e., automobile. Enclosed within the stalk212, may be cabling that both couples an antenna (similar to the antenna103 of FIG. 1) and provides power to the circuitry within the rearhousing 214. The placement of the antenna is not limited by the locationof the stalk 212. The antenna may still be mounted in the mostpreferable location, either on the roof or on the rear window of theautomobile, as cabling from the antenna to the stalk 212 can be routedalong the roof of the automobile in a manner that is visuallyconcealing.

The rear view mirror phone 200 may be conveniently powered-on when theautomobile's ignition is engaged. This ensures the user of not missing acellular call while operating the vehicle. However, should the user wishto utilize the rear-view mirror phone 200 without engaging the ignitionor to power-off the rear-view mirror phone 200 while the ignition isengaged, an alternate means for providing manual power-on and power-offcontrols may be integrated into the rear-view mirror phone 200. Thealternate means may consist of touch-sensitive points on the mirroredsurface 209 or separate buttons (not shown) integrated into the rightand the left sides of the rear housing 214.

The rear view mirror phone 200 is configured to operate predominantly ina "handsfree" mode. The "handsfree" mode allows a user to initiate acall, converse during a call, and end a call without manipulating ahandset. To facilitate the "handsfree" mode, a microphone 207, similarto the microphone 107 of FIG. 1, is integrally disposed on the bottomsurface of the rear housing 214.

To further facilitate the "handsfree" mode, a speaker 206 is integrallydisposed on the bottom surface of the rear housing 214. Although thespeaker 206 is integral to the rear view mirror phone 200, it isplausible via cabling through the stalk 212 to utilize thefactory-installed radio speakers for phone use. Upon receiving orplacing a call, a switch could decouple the speakers from radio use andcouple the speakers for phone use.

Displaying information to the user is also typically required whenoperating in a "handsfree" mode. A display, such as the display 108 ofFIG. 1, can be utilized in conjunction with the mirrored surface 209.When "powered-on," information can be displayed on a very small portion,such as a display area portion 208, of the rear view mirror phone 200 inaccordance with the techniques mentioned in association with FIG. 1.While information is being displayed on the small display area 208, theeffectiveness of the rear view mirror as a means of permitting the userto view the area behind the vehicle is not hampered.

The information displayed by the display area 208 may consist offunctional information. Functional information may include a series ofpre-stored phone numbers from which a user can choose to initiate acall. As described in association with FIG. 1, the RF communicationdevice 100 typically includes the memory 105 that may be used to storephone numbers. Such a memory is utilized in the rear view mirror phone200 for a similar purpose. FIG. 2 reveals two series of numerals "01"and "7085551212" that occupy the left-hand portion of the display area208. The series of numerals "01" may refer to a storage location, whilethe series of numerals "7085551212" may refer to a phone number storedin that storage location. The rear view mirror phone 200 may have asmany as 99 such storage locations and associated phone numbers. The usermay incrementally scroll through the pre-stored phone numbers byactivating a touch-sensitive point on the mirrored surface 209. Asuitable touch sensitive point for such incremental scrolling may be thelocation of the "01." Pre-stored numbers could also be accessed by aseparate button or buttons (not shown) located preferably on the lowerleft side or the bottom left face surface of the rear housing 214.

The information displayed by the display area 208 may also consist ofoperational information. As previously mentioned, operationalinformation may consist of signal strength information. FIG. 2 furthershows a signal strength indicator denoted by "SIGNAL" that occupies thecenter portion of the display area 208. The signal strength indicatorcomprises a hierachial scale of visual elements located to the right of"SIGNAL" that illuminate in proportion to the proximity of a cellularbase station; thus, suggesting the likelihood that a cellular call canbe made from the particular location of the vehicle. The more visualelements illuminated, the greater the signal strength and the likelihoodthat a cellular call can be completed.

Operational information may also consist of status information. Byviewing the right hand portion of the display area 208, the status ofthe rear view mirror phone 200, "ROAM," "IN-USE," and/or "NO SVC," maybe denoted by an illuminated circular visual element. "ROAM" informs theuser that the rear view mirror phone 200 is not functioning in its"home" system. "ROAM" status information is particularly vital to theuser, because initiating a call outside the "home" system typically isaccompanied by a large monetary fee. "IN-USE" informs the user that acall is currently in progress on the rear view mirror phone 200. "NOSVC" informs the user that a cellular call can not be placed, possibly,due to the lack of area cellular coverage or service.

The small display area 208 is strategically placed so as to allow theuser/driver to effectively operate the rear view mirror phone 200 suchthat his or her eyes never "leave the road." By utilizing the mirroredsurface 209 to display important operational information, vehicleoperational safety is enhanced without adding the cost and expense of,for example, a true reverse image cathode ray tube-based, windshieldreflective "heads-up" display that must, typically, be integrated intothe dashboard of the vehicle.

The rear view mirror phone 200 is further equipped with hookswitchfunctionality for call placement and call termination. To place a call,the user would scroll through the first ten pre-stored memory locationsuntil the desired phone number is displayed on the right hand side ofthe display area 208. Once the desired number is displayed, the call canbe placed by activating a touch-sensitive point on the mirrored surface209. A suitable touch-sensitive point for call placement may be thelocation of the phone number on the display area 208. For example, inFIG. 2, to place a call to the displayed phone number "7085551212," theuser need only to touch the display area 208 of the mirrored surface 209on which the phone number "7085551212" is displayed. An alternate meansof placing a call may be to depress a button located on the rear housing214. Call termination can best be accomplished by touching thetouch-sensitive point or depressing the button a second time.

Although the "handsfree" mode tends to be extremely beneficial inassisting a cellular telephone user, there are times when the"handsfree" mode tends to be unfeasible. One such time occurs when thereis a need to converse in privacy to prevent eavesdropping by otherpassengers in the vehicle. Excess noise from traffic or roadwayconstruction may also prevent the user, especially if the user's vehicleis a convertible with the top down, from successfully utilizing the"handsfree" mode of the rear view mirror phone 200.

In order to resolve the aforementioned shortcomings of "handsfree" mode,an optional handset 216, equipped only with a speaker and a microphone,is coupled to the controller of the rear view mirror phone 200 withinthe rear housing 214 via cabling through the mounting stalk 212. Thehandset 216 may be used in conjunction with an optional hang-up cup 217which is similarly coupled to the controller via the mounting stalk 212.The hang-up cup 217 is equipped for hook switch sensing and callcontrol, such that removal of the handset 216 from the hang-up cup 217switches the audio paths from the speaker 206 and the microphone 207 tothe handset 216. The hang-up cup 217 should be mounted so as to beeasily and quickly accessible to the user should the user encounter oneof the aforementioned situations.

The rear view mirror phone 200 described thus far can only place callsto phone numbers that have been pre-stored in the memory. An optionalinfrared keypad controller 218 may be used to store phone numbers in thememory, directly input a phone number to initiate a call, as well aspower-on or power-off the rear view mirror phone 100. The useraccomplishes the aforementioned as well as other enhanced cellularradiotelephone features by depressing a sequence of keys located on afront face surface 211 of the keypad controller 218.

The keypad controller 218 communicates with the rear-view mirror phone200 via infrared one-way control signals from an infrared light rangelight-emitting diode 207 mounted on the top surface of the keypad 218.In response to the depression of keys, infrared one-way control signalsare sent by the keypad controller 218 via the infrared light-emittingdiode 207 and subsequently received by an infrared light range detector210 disposed on the bottom face of the rear housing 214 of the rear viewmirror phone 200. The infrared detector 210 serves as a data interface,similar to the data interface 110 of FIG. 1, that routes received keypadcontrol signals to the controller of the rear view mirror phone 200.

The keypad controller 218, like a standard television remote control,can be powered from self-contained dry cell batteries and only drawspower when a key is depressed. For convenience, the keypad 218 can beremovably attached to the dashboard or to any other location within thevehicle by means of hook and loop (i.e., Velcro) fasteners.

When used with the optional handset 216, the optional hang-up cup 217,and optional keypad controller 218, the rear view mirror phone 200 hasthe same functionality as the highest product tiers of mobile cellularradiotelephones. Aside from those previously mentioned, the rear viewmirror phone 200 may be equipped with other high tier features such asvoice recognition dialing and function control, an integrated pager,and/or an integrated answering machine.

Although FIG. 2 was discussed in reference to a cellular radiotelephone,standard two-way RF communication devices may also utilize the rear viewmirror as a means of displaying information or housing circuitry.Despite some limitations due to heat sinking requirements for particularpower output levels, the transmitter and receiver circuitry of two-wayRF communication devices may also be housed in the rear-view mirror.Rear view mirror mounting of transmitter and receiver circuitry alsoallows additional room under the dash for mobile terminal usage and forthe mounting of other types of accessories in vehicles used for publicservice, police, or taxicab applications.

FIG. 3 illustrates a woman's make-up compact having an integral RFcommunication device in accordance with the present invention. The RFcommunication device integrated into the compact is a pager; thus, acompact pager 300. The circuitry of the compact pager 300 departs fromthe RF communication device 100 of FIG. 1, such that a pager isgenerally devoid of the transmitter 102, the microphone 107, the datainterface 110, and the keypad 111 disclosed therein. Although FIG. 3illustrates the compact pager 300, advancing technology in the area ofelectronics will also likely permit a "compact cellular telephone."

The compact pager 300 is comprised of a mirrored surface 309 disposed ona bottom face surface of an upper housing 324. The mirrored surface 309includes a display area 308 that utilizes the technology as the displayarea 208 of the rear view mirror phone 200 of FIG. 2, discussedprimarily in association with FIG. 1. Although FIG. 3 illustrates thecompact pager 300, it should be realized that similar paging circuitrycould be disposed in the housing of a portable mirror not comprising acompact.

The compact pager 300 is further comprised of a lower housing 314. Thetop face surface of the lower housing 314 may contain individualized,refillable make-up compartments and recesses for applicator instrumentsthat are commonly associated with a woman's make-up compact. The pagercircuitry, including an antenna, a receiver, and a controller, similarto those discussed in association with FIG. 1, is contained within thelower housing 314.

The upper housing 324 and the lower housing 314 are attachably coupledby a hinge 326. The hinge 326 is further comprised of a compressedspring (not shown) enclosed therein. Although FIG. 3 shows the compactpager 300 in an open state, the hinge 326 allows the compact 300 toachieve a closed state. By moving the bottom face containing themirrored surface 309 of the upper housing 324 towards the top facesurface of the lower housing 314, the compact pager 300 can be closed.While moving the upper housing 324, a force must be applied thereto soas to sufficiently overcome the spring force exhibited by the hinge 326.The closed position is accomplished when a hook member 330, extendingorthogonally from the periphery of the top face surface of the lowerhousing 314, contacts with a ledge formed about a corresponding slot 332disposed on the periphery of the bottom face surface of the upperhousing 324.

The closed compact pager 300 can be placed in the open state shown inFIG. 3 by depressing a button 322 disposed on the side of the lowerhousing 314. Slidably coupled to the hook member 330, the button 322 maybe depressed such that the hook member 330 is tilted and subsequentlyreleased from the ledge formed about the slot 332. Once released, thecompressed spring in the hinge 326 exerts a force such that the upperhousing 324 is pulled away from the lower housing 314 and achieves anupright position orthogonal to the lower housing 314. While in thisopened state, the make-up and the applicator may accessed by the userand the mirrored surface 309 may be utilized to aid in make-upapplication. In addition, the button 322 is recessed to preventinopportune opening while the closed compact pager 300 is, for example,being carried amongst other articles within a woman's purse or within apocket.

The compact pager 300 may be powered-on and powered-off by a slideswitch 328 mounted on the side of the lower housing 314. Like othercommercially available pagers, the slide switch 328 may be positioned soas to provide an audible alert for its user when a page is received. Theaudible alert may emanate from a sound port 306 integrated into the sidesurface of the lower housing 314.

The slide switch 328 may be further positioned so as to provide avibrate alert upon receiving a page. The vibrate alert informs the uservia a series of intermittent sensorial vibrations. Such an alert may bebeneficial when the user is in an environment where an audible alert isnot appropriate. The vibrate alert may be produced by a small motor thatrevolves a shaft having an attached counter-weight. Such an apparatus istypically referred to as a vibrator (not shown) and may be adjacentlymounted to the other pager circuitry and coupled to the controller ofthe compact pager 300.

Upon opening the closed, but powered-on, compact pager 300, maybe inresponse to an audible or vibrate alert, a received message is shown onthe display area 308 of the mirrored surface 309. Typically, thereceived message, the page, consists of the phone number of the senderof the message. For example, FIG. 3 shows a page comprised of the phonenumber "555-1212." This page typically prompts the user to place a phonecall to the phone number "555-1212."

The compact pager 300 may be configured to display the most recent pageon the display area 308. In addition, the compact pager 300 may beequipped with a memory, similar to that of the memory 105 of FIG. 1, toqueue and store a particular number of previously received pages. Withthe compact pager 300 in an opened state, the user may scroll throughthe stored, previously received pages by repetitively depressing thebutton 322. As the button 322 is repetitively depressed, the previouslyreceived pages appear in the display area 308. In addition, the displayarea 308 may be backlit or circumscribed with luminous elements to allowpage retrieval or scrolling in dark locations.

In summary, the present invention provides an RF communication devicethat employs a mirrored surface. One such RF communication deviceincludes a cellular radiotelephone integrated into the rear view mirrorof a vehicle. The rear view mirror phone may utilize the mirroredsurface as a means for inputting and outputting both functional andoperational information to the user, a driver of the vehicle. The usermay access and select from a series of pre-stored phone numbers byactivating touch sensitive spots on the mirror surface. Phone statusinformation may be cost-effectively displayed to the user, via liquidcrystal technology, on only a portion of the rear view mirror; thus,allowing the user/driver to safely obtain phone status informationwithout ever diverting his or her eyes from the road. The mirroredsurface may additionally be utilized in conjunction with two-way RFcommunication devices as well as pagers.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in theabove description and drawings, it is understood that this descriptionis by example only and that numerous changes and modifications can bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spiritand scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A rear view mirror assembly comprising:a housing; aradiotelephone transceiver disposed within the housing; a microphonecoupled to the radiotelephone transceiver and disposed on the housing; aspeaker coupled to the radiotelephone transceiver and disposed on thehousing: a display coupled to the transceiver to display operationalinformation of the radiotelephone transceiver; and a mirror attached tothe housing, the mirror having a display area and a mirrored area; thedisplay area coupled to the display to provide viewing of theoperational information, the mirrored area to provide rearwardreflective viewing, the display area and the mirrored area beingadjacent to permit viewing of the operational information and rearwardreflective viewing substantially simultaneously.
 2. A rear view mirrorassembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the operational informationcomprises roaming status information.
 3. A rear view mirror assembly inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the operational information comprisessignal strength information.
 4. A rear view mirror assembly inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the mirror includes a first side and asecond side, the display being attached to the first side of the mirrorand viewable on the second side of the mirror.
 5. A rear view mirrorassembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the display is analphanumeric display.
 6. A rear view mirror assembly in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the housing and the mirror substantially conceal theradiotelephone transceiver.
 7. A rear view mirror assembly in accordancewith claim 1 further comprising a memory coupled to the radiotelephonetransceiver to store functional information.
 8. A rear view mirrorassembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the display further displaysfunctional information read from the memory, the functional informationbeing viewable via the display area of the mirror.
 9. A rear view mirrorassembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the mirror further comprisesa touch sensitive area being actuatable to select viewable functionalinformation.
 10. A communication system comprising, in combination:arear view mirror assembly comprising:a housing, a radiotelephonetransceiver disposed within the housing, a microphone coupled to theradiotelephone transceiver and disposed on the housing, a speakercoupled to the radiotelephone transceiver and disposed on the housing, adata interface coupled to the radiotelephone transceiver, the datainterface having a detector disposed on the housing to detect controlsignals, the control signals including functional information to directthe operation of the radiotelephone transceiver, a display coupled tothe radiotelephone transceiver to display at least some of thefunctional information, and a mirror attached to the housing, the mirrorhaving a display area and a mirrored area, the display area coupled tothe display to provide viewing of at least some of the functionalinformation, the mirrored area to provide rearward reflective viewing,the display area and the mirrored area being adjacent to permit viewingof at least some of the functional information and rearward reflectiveviewing substantially simultaneously; and a wireless controllercomprising a keypad and a transmitter, the keypad being actuatable togenerate the functional information, the transmitter, responsive toactuation of the keypad, to transmit the functional information ascontrol signals.
 11. A communication system in accordance with claim 10wherein the rear view mirror assembly further comprises a memory coupledto the radiotelephone transceiver to store functional informationtherein.
 12. A communication system in accordance with claim 10 whereinthe keypad of the wireless controller includes a send key to initiate acall and an end key to terminate the call.
 13. A communication systemcomprising, in combination:a rear view mirror assembly for a vehiclecomprising:a housing, a mounting stalk coupled between the housing andthe vehicle, a radiotelephone transceiver disposed within the housing, afirst microphone coupled to the radiotelephone transceiver and disposedon the housing, a first speaker coupled to the radiotelephonetransceiver and disposed on the housing, the first speaker and the firstmicrophone defining a first audio path; a display coupled to theradiotelephone transceiver to display operational information, and amirror attached to the housing, the mirror having a display area and amirrored area, the display area coupled to the display to provideviewing of the operational information, the mirrored area to providerearward reflective viewing, the display area and the mirrored areabeing adjacent to permit viewing of the operational information andrearward reflective viewing substantially simultaneously; and a handsethaving an operational state and a non-operational state, the handsetcomprising:a cable coupled to the radiotelephone transceiver via themounting stalk, a second microphone coupled to the cable, a secondspeaker coupled to the cable, the second speaker and the secondmicrophone defining a second audio path, and the radiotelephonetransceiver utilizing the first audio path when the handset is in thenon-operational state and, alternatively, utilizing the second audiopath when the handset is in the operational state.
 14. A communicationsystem in accordance with claim 13 further comprising an antenna coupledto the radiotelephone transceiver via the mounting stalk.
 15. Acommunication system in accordance with claim 13 further comprising ahang-up cup coupled to the radiotelephone transceiver via the mountingstalk, the hang-up cup being detachably coupled to at least a portion ofthe handset and having a detector, the detector to detect attachment ofthe handset and to indicate that the handset is in the non-operationalstate when coupled to the hang-up cup and, alternatively, that thehandset is in the operational state when detached from the hang-up cup.